sorry........ one more little problem.......

[BarryK]

just went to drain the coolant but when I went to loosen the drain "wingnut" on the botton of the radiator (drivers side) it just freeturns around the threads and it won't open to drain. even if it did open now I wouldn't be able to close it again.
There is a nut at the top of the threads tightened up to the bottom of the radiator. Can I loosen that to drain or if i do that will it not be able to tighten up again? Basically I don't know if that is just a nut on a stud that is tack welded inside or it's not tack welded if I were to loosen it I may not be able to close it tight again.

How to drain the radiator if the drain plug can't be opened.

Geez, nothing can ever just go easy for me can it??!!

 

[RodsnRides]

Caution...

Careful, Barry -

You may just end up tearing the tap out of the bottom of the radiator. My recommendation-until you get someone over that knows these things-just disconnect the lower radiator hose from the water pump. Let it drain, then slowly bend the hose down so it drains really good.

Get a big pan, perhaps lay out a bunch of newspapers, cause there's a big splash....

Soak the radiator drain tap in penetrating oil, such as PB Blaster. You may be able to salvage it. Do NOT take a wrench to it until a seasoned pro has a look, please...

I must say-it's fun reading your "apprentice mechanic adventures". Lots of folks here willing to help ya, bud.

Rick

 

[BarryK]

thanks Rods

good idea, I'll try the waterpump hose.

I'm glad at least you are getting amusement out of my mishaps and adventures......... probably a LOT more than I am!
i'm not so sure everyone else on here feels the same way though........ They are probably already tired of all my 'newbie" dumb questions and problems and cringe whenever they see a new thread from me.
Oh well, with no decent local mechanic to depend on I'm stuck trying to learn myself and about my only help and option for help is on here.

 

[61 Silver]

Hi! Barry

If you have an original radiator you most likely have an aluminum drain cock and the the wing nut has come loose. If you can get a wrench on the nut and remove the drain cock unit it will drain the radiator. You are going to need a new one any way. I purchased a new Dewitt's radiator and had the same thing happen. I may still have the new one, i never did replace it and if I can find it you are welcome to it.
Ray

 

[1995 RedVette]

Just a thought, if you take the hose loose there is going to be quit a bit of coolant pouring out of that hose. Enough that you may or may not be able to control it (ie direct it into the pan rather than all over the engine, suspension, etc). I would hate to see you ruin the nice detail job you have on the engine compartment. Instead you might want to put a pan under the lower rad hose and use a utility knife and make a small slit in that hose. That will allow the coolant system to drain in a slower and more controled manner. By my way of thinking a hose is cheaper and easier to swap out than the radiator itself.

Brett

 

[RodsnRides]

Again-caution. You probably can get a wrench on the bung, BUT-you may tear it right off. You really don't want to have to pull the fan, shroud, radiator, etc. Soak it in PB Blaster, mess with the bung later. Suggest a learned fellow look at that one...

When trying to peel the hose off the water pump (it will likely be "glued" on due to engine paint, etc.) they make a tool to slip in between hose and pump (or radiator outlet). Barring that tool, a small regular screwdiver will work, work it in slowly and all the way around, 1/4" at a time, to loosen the bond. Careful not to spear a hole in your hose...

Good luck-your getting closer to teardown...and that's the easy part.

Rick

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

 

[BarryK]

Hi! Barry

If you have an original radiator you most likely have an aluminum drain cock and the the wing nut has come loose. If you can get a wrench on the nut and remove the drain cock unit it will drain the radiator. You are going to need a new one any way. I purchased a new Dewitt's radiator and had the same thing happen. I may still have the new one, i never did replace it and if I can find it you are welcome to it.
Ray

Hi Ray
I am pretty sure it's a replacement radiator but i don't know what kind. It has a "Harrison Aluminum Radiator" sticker on it and has the proper part number and date stamped on it but as we know a lot of repro's can be bought that way too.
But your description of the draincock wingnut coming loose is right on - it just spins around the threads at the end and doesn't do anything.

I'm now confused though as you say I can loosen that nut to remove the drain cock (which is what my original question on this was) but RodsnRides is saying don't touch that nut at all....... what to do, what to do!?

 

[studiog]

Barry is there such a thing as too much advice?.... Well here goes one more tidbit. You probaly know that you don't need to dump every drop of antifreeze, a gallon or so will probably do the trick.

 

[BarryK]

Brett, that's an idea, but I'll wait to start delibertly cutting my hoses until I have no other options here.

 

[BarryK]

Barry is there such a thing as too much advise.... Well here goes one more tidbit. You probaly know that you don't need to dump every drop of antifreeze, a gallon will probably do the trick.

yep, just need to drain enough to get below the level of the manifold.

 

[Bwmurph]

Barry,

Man, you do have the luck !! If you want I'll stop after work tomorrow and have a look at your radiator drain petcock (no giggling, please). My guess is you may have turned it the wrong way (it's easy to do) and wrung the wingnut off it. Might want to go ahead and get another one on order anyway, sounds like yours has seen better days.

Let me know if you want some help.

Bernie O.

 

[JohnZ]

Does it look like this? The photo below is a DeWitt's Harrison radiator with the correct aluminum drain cock (note no end tanks - the fins are continuous all the way around the radiator):

 

[BarryK]

Bernie

I may need help on this afterall but I won't be around tomorrow afternoon or night - work than our Vette club meeting.
If I can't get it by than maybe on Wed??

 

[Bwmurph]

No problem; I think I'm OK for Wed; I'd come up now but Wendy doesn't get home from work 'til late tonight and I'm doing trick or treat duty.

Did you get anything else done ? If not we'll get the exhaust manifolds off at the same time. They should pop right off with no problem, right ? Right ???

Think positive,

Bernie O.

 

[BarryK]

Bernie, i'm currently HIDING from the little trick or treaters myself - all the outside lights are off so they don't come a-knocking.
yeah, yeah, yeah....... I know that's a lousy thing to do but i'm not in the mood for it tonight.

wed. would be cool. I THINK I have this figured out basically though the more I look at it. that nut I keep referring to must be a stop nut and by loosening it I'll be able to remove the draincock unit itself for replacement. A new one will just screw in and it tightens up once the nut hits the bottom of the radiator.
gee, that makes sense once I thought it thru - and went to a catalog to look at what the whole draincock really looks like. go figure.
Guess i'm making mountains out of molehills again but i'm always nervous whenever I do anything new to the car for the first time doing it and I don't want to do something stupid and break something.

I ALWAYS think positive - i'm always positive that I'll manage to screw it up!

your help on the exhaust manifolds would be very welcome - you know that's the one thing that i'm most nervous and worried about.

 

[Bwmurph]

OK, I'll plan on Wednesday; might even see if I can sneak out of work a little early.

Bernie O

 

[BarryK]

yay!! I got the coolant drained finally
ended up clamping a pair of visegrips over the center area of the wings, compressing them tighter against the threads than turned the visegrips. It was enough to work and let it start draining so now the radiator is empty.
Definately destroyed the end of the draincock that way but hey, I obviously needed another one anyway so no loss there. Besides, the wings ended up breaking off so now it will be easy to use a socket to get the rest of the draincock off. It wasn't my preferred method of getting the coolant drained but it worked and no damage to the radiator.
T-stat housing, t-stat, and temp sending unit are off.
just need to disconnect the last two hoses - the heater hose off the intake and the bypass hose to the WP and I'm ready to lift the intake off.

after all this the valve covers should be a breeze!
D*MN, did I just say that? I probably just jinxed myself on those also now..

 

[Mac]

after all this the valve covers should be a breeze!
D*MN, did I just say that? I probably just jinxed myself on those also now..

Remember, if it ain't broke, you're not trying hard enough. :L

-Mac

 

[BarryK]

very true Mac

just goes to show what a little persistence and stubbornness will do for you